Floribunda rose plant named ‘Meibionel’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the Floribunda Class is provided which abundantly forms on a nearly continuous basis attractive double deep scarlet red blossoms that well retain their coloration upon maturity. The growth habit is compact bushy. Very dense dark green semi-matte to semi-glossy foliage is formed that contrasts nicely with the blossom coloration. A well-branched plant develops following budding and grafting. Above average disease tolerance especially with respect to Black Spot is displayed. The new variety is well suited for growing in containers and in smaller gardens.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Floribunda Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. ‘Meibionel’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Floribunda rose plant was created by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the new variety was an unnamed selection that resulted from the cross of the ‘Meidanu’ variety (non-patented in the United States) and the ‘Kornita’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the ‘Meifiga’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The ‘Meidanu’ variety has been marketed under the TAMANGO trademark, the ‘Kornita’ variety has been marketed under the KORONA trademark, and the ‘Meifiga’ variety has been marketed under the PHARAON trademark. The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows: (‘Meidanu’×‘Kornita’)×‘Meifiga’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and small plants were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant which was the first plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of Floribunda rose plant of the present invention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) exhibits a compact bushy growth habit,     -   (b) forms in abundance in clusters on a nearly continuous basis         attractive double deep scarlet red blossoms that well retain         their coloration upon maturity,     -   (c) forms very dense dark semi-matte to semi-glossy foliage,     -   (d) develops a well-branched plant following budding and         grafting, and     -   (e) exhibits above average disease tolerance for a rose plant of         this Class.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. It is particularly well suited for growing in containers and in smaller gardens.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its antecedent varieties. More specifically, the ‘Meidanu’ variety forms larger darker red blossoms having more petals on average. The ‘Kornita’ variety forms smaller blossoms that are orange-scarlet in coloration. The ‘Meifiga’ variety is a Hybrid Tea that forms significantly larger blossoms that are bright orange-red in coloration.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation at West Grove, Pa. and at Wasco, Calif. by budding and grafting. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned methods as performed in Pennsylvania and California has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are stably transmissible from one generation to another.

The new variety has been named the ‘Meibionel’ variety, and is being marketed under the PREFERENCE trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this character typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plants of the new variety were two years of age and were photographed during September 2003 while growing on ‘Dr. Huey’ rootstock (non-patented in the United States) at Wasco, Calif. Dimensions in centimeters are included at the bottom of each photograph.

FIG. 1 illustrates a series of six flower buds in progressive stages of opening with an unopened bud being shown at the left and a flower in the course of opening at the right.

FIG. 2 illustrates open flowers with the obverse being shown at the left and the reverse at the right.

FIG. 3 illustrates typical petals (left) and petaloids (right). The obverse side of the petals is shown above and the reverse side below. Representative sizes and shapes of the petaloids that commonly are displayed are illustrated.

FIG. 4 illustrates typical five-leaflet leaves with the obverse being shown at the left and the reverse at the right.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (1966 R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based on the observation of two-year-old specimens of the new variety which were observed during September 2003 while growing on ‘Dr. Huey’ rootstock at Wasco, Calif.

-   Class: Floribunda. -   Plant:     -   -   Height.—Approximately 90 to 120 cm on average at the end of             the growing season.         -   Width.—Approximately 60 to 80 cm on average at the end of             the growing season.         -   Habit.—Compact bushy. -   Branches:     -   -   Color.—Young stems: near Yellow-Green Group 146B with some             lightening to Yellow-Green Group 146C. Adult wood:             Yellow-Green Group 146B with some lightening to Yellow-Green             Group 146C.         -   Thorns.—On a 15 cm section from a lower section of a             flowering stem having a diameter of approximately 11 mm and             containing four nodes, there commonly are approximately 10             major prickles having lengths of approximately 5 to 8 mm,             approximately 25 minor prickles having lengths of             approximately 2 to 5 mm, and over 75 minute prickles less             than 2 mm in length that are barely visible but discernible             by touch that grade into glandular hairs. On a 15 cm section             from an upper section of a flowering stem having a diameter             of approximately 6 mm and containing five nodes, there             commonly are no major prickles, approximately 5 to 10 minor             prickles having lengths of approximately 3.5 to 5 mm, and no             minute prickles. -   Leaves:     -   -   Shape.—Alternate and pinnately compound.         -   Size.—The size varies widely within and between leaves of             different leaflet numbers. A mature five-leaflet leaf             commonly is approximately 9 to 10 cm (approximately 9.5 cm             on average) in length, and approximately 6.5 to 7.5 cm             (approximately 7.0 cm) in width. A mature seven-leaflet leaf             commonly is approximately 11.5 to 16.5 cm (approximately             13.5 cm on average) in length, and approximately 8 to 10.5             cm (approximately 9.3 cm on average) in width.         -   Leaflets.—Number: 3 rarely, and more commonly 5 and 7.             Shape: typically broadly elliptical to elliptical to             slightly ovate to occasionally oval. Apex: broadly to medium             acute to broadly rounded. Base: commonly broadly rounded to             oblique to rarely truncate. Texture: stiffly papyraceous,             and smooth on both surfaces. Margin: serrate to rarely             double serrate. Venation: pinnate, reticulate, and near             Yellow-Green Group 145B on both surfaces. General             appearance: very dense, dark green, and semi-matte to             semi-glossy. Color (adult foliage): Upper surface: near             Green Group 139A with some darker shades. Under surface:             near Green Group 137C commonly with a distinct matte             surface. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly approximately 1 to 6 per             inflorescence.         -   Peduncle.—Commonly approximately 3.8 to 6.2 cm             (approximately 5.0 cm on average) in length, and             approximately 2 to 3 mm (approximately 2.5 mm on average) in             diameter.         -   Sepals.—Five in number, and lanceolate commonly with a few             foliaceous extensions on two or three sepals.         -   Buds.—Shape: ovoid, approximately 7.5 cm length,             approximately 1.5 cm in diameter at the widest point, and             near Green Group 143C commonly with some hint of Red-Purple             Group 60A towards the peduncle.         -   Flower.—Form: double. Diameter: approximately 6.5 to 8.5 cm             (approximately 7.5 on average) when fully open. Depth:             commonly approximately 5 to 6 cm. Color when fully open:             Upper surface: predominantly near Red Group 53A and             lightening continuously near and through Red Group 53B and             53C. Near the petal base near Red Group 51A and Red Group             54A with lightening continuously near and through Red Group             54B and 54C. Veins in the upper and middle areas are near             Red Group 45A. At the extreme base of the petals near White             Group 155B commonly is displayed. With age increasing             amounts of Red-Purple Group 59A. Under surface: near Red             Group 53A and lightening continuously near and through Red             Group 53B towards the base where Red Group 51A and then near             White Group 155B is displayed. With age increasing amounts             of near Red-Purple Group 59B and 59C are displayed.             Stability of coloration: very good with coloration commonly             being well maintained upon full maturity and through petal             drop. Petal configuration: typically broadly obovate to             occasionally narrowly obovate to turbinate to almost             obcordate. Petal number: ranges widely from approximately 12             to 25 under typical growing conditions with an average of             approximately 21. Petal arrangement: rosulate. Petal margin:             entire though tends to be repand and typically more towards             the apex area. Petal apex: typically broadly obtuse to             rounded to truncate to emarginated. Petal base: commonly             narrowly cuneate to broadly cuneate. Petal size: commonly             approximately 30 to 41 mm (average approximately 36 mm) in             length, and approximately 21 to 44 mm (average approximately             33.5 mm) in width. Petaloids: commonly approximately 1 to 8             (approximately 4 on average) per bloom. Fragrance: very             slight, and so slight that it is impossible to characterize.             Pistil number: approximately 70 to 105 (approximately 90 on             average). Stigmas: commonly approximately 0.8 to 1.1             (average approximately 1 mm) in size, and near Greyed-Yellow             Group 161C in coloration. Styles: commonly approximately 8             to 9.8 cm (averages approximately 8.6 mm) in length, and             near Red Group 43C with lightening to near Red Group 43D.             Stamen number: commonly approximately 140 to 180. Filaments:             commonly approximately 2 to 8 mm in length. Anthers:             commonly approximately 1.5 to 2.2 mm (averages approximately             1.8 mm) in size. Receptacle: for a fully open flower             approximately 6.5 to 9.5 mm in length, and approximately 7.5             to 8.5 mm in diameter. Petal drop: the petals commonly             detach cleanly. -   Development:     -   -   Vegetation: Vigorous and strong.         -   Blooming.—Very abundant and nearly continuous.         -   Aptitude to bear fruit.—None observed.         -   Resistance to diseases.—Above average disease tolerance for             a Floribunda is displayed with good resistance to Black             Spot. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Floribunda rose plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) exhibits a compact bushy growth habit, (b) forms in abundance in clusters on a nearly continuous basis attractive double deep scarlet red blossoms that well retain their coloration upon maturity, (c) forms very dense dark green semi-matte to semi-glossy foliage, (d) develops a well-branched plant following budding and grafting, and (e) exhibits above average disease tolerance for a rose plant of this Class; substantially as herein shown and described. 